One of Ward`s first moves, in a departure from the past, was to offer young prospect Corcoran a possible contract extension, just weeks after Boothroyd had released him from the Essex club.

Ward explained to BBC Essex: “Sam is a young boy who Aidy released. I disagreed at the time, so the opportunity to say to him he can come back in.”

“I tried to get him to my previous club, Cheltenham. They were keen to take him in. I said I thought he`d have a shirt for them – on their bench, or in their team and he`s only a second-year boy coming up. If I`m saying that to them I`ve now got this opportunity, he might as well stay with me.”

The player had looked to have a promising career ahead of him, favoured under former boss Paul Lambert. He was impressive in pre-season last year, practically against Premiership Aston Villa and is expected to accept the new one-year deal.

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